Location
The Republic of Botswana is a landlocked country situated in Southern Africa. Citizens of Botswana are called "Batswana" regardless of ethnicity. Botswana was formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland and adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966.
It is bordered by South Africa to the south and southeast, Namibia to the west and north, and Zimbabwe to the northeast and meets Zambia at a single point.
Up to 70% of Botswana is covered by the Kalahari Desert and geographically the country is flat. When it became independent in 1966, Botswana was one of the most impoverished countries in Africa. However today, it is home to a relatively stable political system and a rapidly developing market economy. Because of it's close economic ties with South Africa, Botswana has the most successful economy in Africa sustained by It's world-renowned diamond industry, tourism sector and manufacturing plants.
